College basketball's tallest player Olivier Rioux heads to UC Irvine

Field Level Media|published: Thu 30th April, 12:27 2026

Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) greets fans after Florida’s 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M of the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. .[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Olivier Rioux, who at 7-foot-9 is the tallest player in college basketball history, has committed to play for UC Irvine.

The Canadian center redshirted for Florida during its 2024-25 national championship season and played in just 11 games in 2025-26.

"Next stop, Irvine, California," Rioux wrote Thursday on Instagram.

Rioux's exit follows the commitment of Florida stars Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to return for the 2026-27 season. Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has entered the NBA draft but also is expected to return.

Rioux finished his Florida career with seven points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. He had a dunk in the Gators' first-round NCAA Tournament win against Prairie View A&M on March 20.

UC Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title but lost to Hawaii in the league's tournament.

"We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program," Anteaters head coach Russell Turner said. "Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine.

"We've built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier's unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family."

--Field Level Media